Pirate Baseball Season Debuts Powered by Escalante, Bala…

Another Opening Day and all now the sports world is back to normal. At least for me.

As a baseball player at Oceanside High and beyond, the start of baseball season is always a special time.

Padres Baseball

On the professional side, the Padres are young and exciting. Most “experts” expect them to finish last in the NL West. The key will be health and pitching. Opening day starter Jhoulys Chacin pitched well for Team Venezuela in the recent World Baseball Classic and the Padres hope for more of the same.

The young hitters should provide plenty of excitement as the Padres build around All Star first baseman Wil Myers. But it may be a few more seasons before the hitters and pitchers mesh and make the Padres a contender.

Oceanside Pirate Baseball

On the local scene, Coach Dave Barrett’s Oceanside Pirates are off to a good start. The Pirates look for big things from Senior pitcher Matai Bala and Junior Antonio Escalante. Escalante has 2 complete game wins in his first 3 games, including a no-hitter against Fallbrook in the Pirates’ season opener.

Bala, Escalante and Seniors Ben Lloyd and Jason Sroufe lead the Pirate hitters early in the season.

The Pirates open their home league season today at 3:30 p.m. against San Marcos.

El Camino Wildcat Baseball

Across town, Coach Greg Atkinson’s El Camino Wildcats open their home league season today at 3:30 p.m. against Vista.

Senior hurler Braden Olthoff has 2 early season wins for the Wildcats. The Wilcats’ offense has been led by Seniors Zach Rebensdorf, Raymond Gutierrez and Mattias Tirona.

The Pirates and Wildcats will battle it out in the Avocado East League.

Other spring sports to watch include Boys’ and Girls’ Track and Field and Swimming, Boys’ Golf, Volleyball, Lacrosse and Tennis and Girls’ Softball and Lacrosse. Check the local High Schools websites for schedules.

Oceanside / El Camino Golf Tournament Fundraisers

Speaking of golf, the El Camino Wildcat Classic will be held April 10 at El Camino Country Club. The tournament is a fundraiser by the Wildcat booster club to raise money for scholarships for El Camino seniors. Contact Wildcat Coach Clayton Huggins at echsgolf@gmail.com for more information and to register.

The Willie Buchanon Celebrity Golf Classic will be held Friday April 28 at the Golf Club of California in Fallbrook. Sponsorship dollars benefit the Oceanside High School Athletic programs and Buchanon Youth Foundation. For more information contact WillieB@BuchanonAssoc.com or call 760-419-8228.